Earlier this year, it finally became illegal for people to disclose private sexual images without consent, with a maximum sentence carrying two years' imprisonment.

Now, an official report has revealed that so-called 'revenge porn' prosecutions have topped 200 since new laws to tackle the crime were introduced.

The director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders, said: "There have been more than 200 so-called revenge pornography prosecutions since the legislation came into force - indicative of the growing number of offences occurring through social media.

"We have also found that defendants in controlling or coercive cases rely on tactics such as GPS tracking and monitoring phone or email messages."

Figures published by the Crown Prosecution Service revealed there were 206 specific cases of prosecution regarding 'revenge porn'. However, it did not specify the number of cases referred to prosecutors.

Freedom of Information responses obtained by the BBC from 31 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales, though, indicated that there had been 1,160 reported incidents of revenge pornography from April 2015 to December 2015.

With it also emerging that violent offences against women, including rape and domestic abuse, had risen by 10% in 2015/6, these fresh figures appear to show the new law taking effect.